ALCS Tackles "Copy and Paste" Culture in Schools

LONDON, March 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Authors' Licensing and Collecting Society has created a schools programme, Copywrite!, to educate 11-14 year olds about the importance of copyright and intellectual property.

The programme, Copywrite!, has been designed with the help of National Schools Partnership, to be used as part of the KS3 curriculum in English, Citizenship, Drama and ICT and helps students understand why copyright is so important.

Barbara Hayes from ALCS said, "Young people these days are growing up in a culture where "copying and pasting" from the internet is prevalent. We need young people to understand why copyright matters and how it affects people who write for a living - which may be them one day."

The programme includes lesson plans for teachers which encourage creative writing and thinking in the students and highlights the social and moral context of copyright. Video insights are also used to reinforce the effect plagarism has on individuals, showing interviews with 4 professionals from the writing industry including novelist, Sophie Kinsella, TV scriptwriter, Toby Whithouse, journalist, Danuta Kean and publisher, Richard Charkin.

As well as the school resources, Copywrite! also includes a creative writing competition where the winner gets a netbook, Amazon vouchers and books, as well as GBP1000 book voucher for their school library, an author school visit and class trip to a literary event.

National Schools Partnership is overseeing the schools participation in the programme and has had a fantastic response from teachers. "I think schools recognise that plagiarism is becoming a big problem these days with young people having easy access to so much information from so many sources. Quite often students use material without having any idea why they shouldn't and this programme will really help educate them about why copyright matters," comments Mark Fawcett, Chief Executive of National Schools Partnership.

If you would like more information about Copywrite! or would like to register to use the resources, please go to the website, http://www.nationalschoolspartnership.com/copywrite.

Notes for Editors

About ALCS

The Authors' Licensing and Collecting Society is a not-for-profit membership organization. Set up in the wake of the campaign to establish Public Lending Right in 1977, ALCS has distributed a total of GBP250 million to writers since its inception (for further details check out the website at http://www.alcs.co.uk). We collect and distribute secondary royalties (http://www.alcs.co.uk/What-we-do/Where-the-money-comes-from.aspx) on behalf of over 80,000 Members. ALCS is committed to fostering an awareness of the value of copyright among writers as well as the wider public who use, enjoy and benefit from the written word in all its forms. We campaign and lobby on issues of importance to writers both at a national and international level, to ensure that writers' rights are both recognised and rewarded. ALCS is recognised internationally as a leading authority on copyright matters and authors' interests. ALCS pays royalties to Members in 137 countries around the globe. Follow us on twitter (http://twitter.com/alcs2010) and Facebook. (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Authors-Licensing-Collecting-Society-ALCS/197064870439)

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About National Schools Partnership

National Schools Partnership specialises in reaching the youth and family market through education. We create and produce a range of social and marketing campaigns using our expertise in research, consultancy, digital, marketing, education and events. National Schools Partnership work with companies, brands, public sector organisations and charities to effectively educate, engage and entertain children, young people and their families.

For further information please contact ALCS, Alison Baxter on +44(0)20-7264-5705.

For further information please contact National Schools Partnership, Sally Greene on +44(0)207-198-8370, sgreene@nationalschoolspartnership.com